This week’s topics include cuts to CDC and USAID that threaten global biodefense, breakthrough vaccines for Nipah and CCHF, and confirmation of airborne H5N1 transmission in mammals. Also: Rwanda’s rapid Marburg response sets a new standard, while U.S. measles cases hit a 33-year high.
FEATURED
Dismantling CDC’s Global Work is Dismantling Our First Line of Biodefense
For decades, CDC’s global network of over 60 country offices and regional hubs have functioned as forward-deployed biodefense bases. These bases provide early detection and rapid response capabilities at the source of biological threats—before they can reach U.S. shores. If the Trump Administration’s budget is implemented, CDC will begin to shutter these offices around the world. Those offices are the ones that receive the first call in Nigeria, Cambodia, or anywhere else a biothreat emerges. This destruction of CDC’s global leadership would be coupled with the more than 60% cut to the State and USAID global health budget. Just Security
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Vaccines and Animal Models of Nipah Virus: Current Situation and Future Prospects
Nipah virus (NiV), a high-fatality zoonotic pathogen and WHO priority threat, continues to challenge global health security due to repeated outbreaks and the absence of licensed vaccines or therapeutics. Recent research highlights major advances in vaccine development, with several candidates—including subunit, mRNA, recombinant viral vector, and nanoparticle-based platforms—demonstrating complete protection in preclinical models. Three vaccine candidates and the monoclonal antibody m102.4 are now in early-stage clinical trials. Key barriers remain: limited commercial incentives, difficulties conducting large-scale trials, and a lack of validated correlates of protection. Vaccines
Once Lauded as a Scientific Marvel, mRNA is Now a Government Target
Republican lawmakers and federal health officials alike are shunning messenger RNA, a basic building block of biology that proved its value during Covid, and that holds promise for combating the next pandemic and unlocking new cancer treatments. Public health experts and biotech companies are watching in horror as the government cuts its investments in the technology, and as officials like health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. foment deep distrust of mRNA vaccines. STAT
Next-Generation Nanobody Offers Broad, Ultrapotent Coronavirus Neutralization
A novel class of single-domain antibodies (VHHs) has been developed that neutralizes both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 variants—including immune-evasive strains—by targeting a conserved, membrane-proximal quaternary epitope on the spike protein’s S2 subunit. Unlike most existing monoclonal antibodies that lose efficacy against new variants, the lead VHH in this study demonstrated robust prophylactic and therapeutic activity in animal models and showed minimal escape potential. This unique mechanism could underpin next-generation pan-sarbecovirus countermeasures and inform antibody design for other class I fusion proteins. Nature Communications
Single-Dose VSV Vaccine Fully Protects Mice Against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
NIH researchers at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories have developed a single-dose VSV-based vaccine that fully protects mice from lethal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV)—including strains genetically distinct from the vaccine. The study identifies the nucleoprotein-targeting candidate VSV-CCHFnp1 as especially promising, achieving 100% survival and reduced viral burden without weight loss or tissue damage. Unlike traditional vaccines relying on neutralizing antibodies, this approach leverages strong non-neutralizing immune responses against a conserved viral protein, making it a scalable option for cross-strain protection. The findings offer a critical step toward a broadly protective CCHFV vaccine—urgently needed in regions where this often-fatal tickborne virus is endemic. Global Biodefense
Novel Oral Chitosan-Based Compound Shows Promise for Radiological Emergency Response
A novel oral compound, chitosan@DOTAGA, is showing strong potential as a dual-action countermeasure for radiological emergencies, combining radionuclide decorporation with antioxidant radioprotection. Unveiled at the 2025 Radiation Research Society workshop, this non-absorbable, chitosan-based biopolymer binds radioactive metals like plutonium, uranium, and americium in the gut, while also mitigating oxidative damage from radiation exposure. Preclinical studies in mice demonstrated effective clearance of radioactive contaminants and protection from inflammation, with no systemic toxicity. Global Biodefense
Enzyme-Based Anthrax Therapy Shows Promise in Preclinical Trials
A preclinical study by USAMRIID and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory shows that pegylated CapD enzymes—engineered to strip Bacillus anthracis of its protective capsule—can significantly protect mice from lethal anthrax infection, even at high exposure doses. Published in ACS Omega, the research tested both linear and branched PEG-modified CapD variants, demonstrating strong survival rates (up to 90%) and enhanced enzyme stability. With growing concern over antibiotic-resistant anthrax and bioterror threats, this enzyme-based approach offers a novel, non-antibiotic countermeasure for biodefense. Global Biodefense
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Mirror Life: Addressing a Potential Biothreat
In December 2024, a group of scientists did something rare: published a warning against building a technology that some of them had spent years working toward. Even more eye-popping, this came at least a decade before the tech is even possible. The warning concerned mirror bacteria: hypothetical synthetic organisms built from mirror-image forms of the proteins, amino acids, DNA, and other biomolecules used by life on earth. Think Global Health
Asilomar 50 Years On: Global Experts Renew Call to End Biological Weapons
At the 50th anniversary of the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA, over 100 participants endorsed a renewed international entreaty to condemn and render obsolete biological weapons, invoking the dual anniversaries of the Biological Weapons Convention (1975) and Geneva Protocol (1925). The “Spirit of Asilomar” declaration emphasizes the urgent need for equitable global access to tools for early detection, attribution, and rapid countermeasure development—particularly in an era shaped by advances in synthetic biology and AI. The authors warn of rising state and non-state biological threats and stress that reaffirming—and acting upon—the century-old norm against weaponizing biology is more critical than ever. Council on Strategic Risks
GAO To HHS: Fix ‘Persistent Deficiencies’ In Infectious-Disease Testing Before Next Pandemic
A new GAO report identifies nearly 100 improvements and makes four key recommendations to strengthen HHS’s leadership in diagnostic testing during public health emergencies. Despite being added to the GAO’s High-Risk List in 2022 for ongoing emergency preparedness failures, HHS has made limited progress. The report calls for a national testing strategy with clearer roles, regular updates, and a permanent, multisector testing forum. Persistent threats from zoonotic spillover, emerging infections, and climate-driven hazards underscore the urgent need for standardized, scalable diagnostic systems. While HHS has begun addressing some gaps, experts stress more proactive coordination and infrastructure are critical. CIDRAP
Preparedness in Practice: Rwanda’s Record-Breaking Marburg Response
Rwanda’s unprecedented containment of a Marburg virus outbreak in late 2024 stands as a global benchmark for outbreak preparedness. Just weeks before the real outbreak, Rwanda conducted a CEPI-led 100 Days Mission tabletop exercise simulating a hemorrhagic disease emergency. When Marburg appeared in reality, officials swiftly applied lessons from the exercise—initiating immediate surveillance, mobilizing global partners including the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and launching an emergency vaccine trial within 10 days. The outbreak was declared over by December 20. This success demonstrates the vital role of proactive training, multisector coordination, and international collaboration in averting epidemics. Gavi
CBRN Readiness Still Lags Where It Matters Most: The Prehospital Front Line
A new review in the Turkish Journal of Clinical Research highlights critical global gaps in prehospital preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, warning that frontline medical response remains dangerously underdeveloped. Key deficiencies include limited responder training, inadequate PPE, and lack of pediatric-specific protocols, all of which undermine early intervention and containment. Drawing lessons from Türkiye and international models like Qatar’s RSDAT protocol, the study calls for mandatory CBRN training, real-world scenario drills, and multi-agency coordination to move from paper plans to operational readiness. Global Biodefense
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Last Look: Critical Ebola Research from Now-Closed NIAID BSL-4 Lab
In what may be the final research output from the now-closed NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) at Fort Detrick, scientists have identified a strong link between oxidative stress and immune cell loss in Ebola virus disease (EVD). The study used a ROS-sensitive molecular MRI probe to visualize real-time tissue damage in ferrets, revealing that rising levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with CD4+ and CD8+ T cell apoptosis—a key hallmark of severe EVD. This first-of-its-kind approach in a small-animal model offers insights into potential therapeutic targets, such as ROS mitigation strategies. The study also underscores the critical value of high-containment research infrastructure, which is now hampered by the Trump Administration’s sudden (temporary?) closure of the IRF, raising concerns about future readiness for deadly pathogens like Ebola. Global Biodefense
Study Reveals Potential for Sexual Transmission of Lassa Virus in Natural Rodent Reservoirs
New research reveals that Lassa virus can be sexually transmitted between its natural rodent hosts, suggesting a previously underrecognized route for viral persistence in the wild. Scientists found that infected male Mastomys natalensis rats shed virus in sperm for weeks, and intravaginal exposure in females led to systemic infection—all without visible symptoms. This discovery may help explain how Lassa virus remains endemic in rodent populations and reinforces the need for reservoir-targeted surveillance to prevent human spillover. Global Biodefense
Ebola as a Bioweapon: Rethinking Preparedness in an Age of Converging Threats
A new review from researchers at the University of Rome Tor Vergata warns that Ebola virus disease (EVD) poses not only a natural outbreak risk but a credible bioterrorism threat, underscoring the need to adapt CBRNE defense frameworks for high-consequence pathogens. The study calls for greater integration between civilian public health systems and national biodefense strategies, noting that even “low-tech” bioterror—such as intentional spread by infected individuals—could overwhelm global health systems. The authors advocate for tailored Ebola preparedness plans, rapid diagnostics, and equitable access to countermeasures, warning that delayed response in one region can escalate into a global crisis. Global Biodefense
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
DHS FY 2026 Budget Dissolves CWMD Office Amid Structural Overhaul
The FY 2026 budget from the Trump-Vance Administration marks a seismic shift in U.S. homeland security strategy, eliminating DHS’s Office for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) and scattering its responsibilities across multiple components. Once a centralized hub for CBRNE threat coordination, CWMD will see all 286 positions and $409 million in funding reassigned—raising alarms about loss of strategic oversight, interagency coherence, and stakeholder continuity. Key programs like BioWatch and Securing the Cities move to CISA, while biosurveillance and R&D functions are fragmented across CBP, the Coast Guard, and TSA. Global Biodefense
Ending U.S.-Global Health Research Partnerships Will Cost America
A sudden NIH policy change eliminates subcontracts with foreign partners, requiring international collaborators to become direct NIH grantees — disrupting over 1,800 active global health research projects worth $10 billion. Without a transition plan or stakeholder input, this move halts critical work on HIV, TB, and other epidemics, jeopardizing clinical trials, staffing, and data collection in low-resource settings. While NIH cites oversight and national security, experts argue existing mechanisms already provide accountability. The change undermines U.S. scientific leadership, risks a brain drain, and threatens global outbreak preparedness. Immediate pause and consultation are urgently needed. STAT
FDA Layoffs Could Compromise Safety of Medications Made at Foreign Factories
Despite Trump-Vance Administration claims that inspector roles were spared, recent FDA staff cuts—including hundreds of support personnel—are severely disrupting overseas drug inspections, according to investigators and former agency leaders. Layoffs affected teams that coordinate complex travel and logistics for inspections across more than 90 countries, slowing investigations and increasing risk as less experienced staff replace veteran drug safety experts. The loss comes amid a backlog of quality concerns at foreign drug factories, where many U.S. generics—including chemotherapy drugs and antibiotics—are produced. Experts caution that without the infrastructure to support inspections, Americans face growing risks from unsafe or substandard medications. ProPublica, New York Times Magazine, STAT
Stalled Progress: AMR Advisory Council Cancellation Raises Alarm Amid Federal Inaction
The abrupt cancellation of the meeting of the President’s Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) has sparked concern among scientists and health professionals, as the U.S. faces a rising toll of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—now linked to over 160,000 deaths annually. A coalition of 41 organizations is urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reconvene the council without delay. Global Biodefense
Strengthening Biosecurity Efforts Without the Federal Government
Thousands of employees at the U.S. Health and Human Services Department were abruptly laid off on April 1 this year. These layoffs, coupled with funding cuts to programs intended to bolster biosecurity, will constitute a devastating blow to the United States’ ability to fight against biological threats, including the potential weaponization of a biological agent. In light of these developments, it is time to explore the ways labs and scientists can keep the momentum going when it comes to facing biological threats without a unifying federal strategy. Center for Arms Control and Proliferation
Why Eliminating EPA’s Research Arm Endangers Public Health and U.S. Competitiveness
In a PNAS opinion piece, former EPA scientists warn that proposals to eliminate the agency’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) would severely compromise U.S. public health, environmental safety, and national preparedness. ORD underpins EPA’s science-based regulation and has played a pivotal role in crisis response—from the anthrax attacks to PFAS contamination to chemical train derailments. The office also supports CBRNE preparedness, predictive toxicology, and international chemical safety leadership. Its dissolution, the authors argue, would weaken the U.S. ability to detect and respond to biological and chemical threats, disrupt industry innovation, and cede global scientific influence. In short, ORD is not just a regulatory function—it’s a strategic national asset in an increasingly hazardous world. Global Biodefense
U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain
Dr. Ardem Patapoutian’s journey—from refugee to Nobel laureate—embodies the promise of American science fueled by public investment. After launching a groundbreaking lab at Scripps Research with NIH support, his work earned global acclaim. But recent federal funding freezes under the Trump administration now threaten this legacy, halting his pain research and prompting foreign recruitment offers. While Patapoutian remains committed to the U.S., he warns that diminished support is driving emerging talent abroad, endangering the future of American biomedical leadership and innovation. New York Times
We Set Out to Quantify U.S. Academic Contributions to Medicines. The Results Stunned Even Us
A new analysis reveals that U.S. universities contributed patents to 50% of all FDA-approved drugs from 2020–2024, with 87% of those stemming from American institutions. This underscores the indispensable role of academic research in pharmaceutical innovation — a dramatic shift from the private-sector dominance of the 20th century. Yet, with rising global competition, especially from China, and growing disillusionment among U.S. scientists, this leadership is under threat. Sustained federal investment in academic science is essential to preserving America’s influence over global health priorities and maintaining its bioeconomic edge. STAT
Hijacking Vaccine Policy: RFK Jr.’s Handpicked ACIP Undermines Science in Historic CDC Meeting
In a historic and alarming shift, the June 2025 meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) marked the first under its new anti-vaccine membership, appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The committee—now lacking credible expertise—voted to restrict flu vaccines based on discredited claims, sidelining CDC scientists and sparking outrage from major medical bodies. Experts warn the move sets a dangerous precedent, undermines public trust, and could disrupt global immunization programs, particularly in low-income countries that depend on multi-dose, thimerosal-containing vaccines. Global Biodefense, The Atlantic, MedPage Today, TWiV
USAID Defunding Could Lead to 14 Million Deaths Worldwide from Infectious Diseases by 2030
A new Lancet study projects that over 14 million excess deaths—including 4.5 million children under five—could occur globally by 2030 if the Trump administration’s drastic USAID funding cuts are not reversed. The international research team analyzed two decades of data across 133 countries and found that USAID investments from 2001 to 2021 helped avert nearly 92 million deaths, with major impacts on HIV/AIDS, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and childhood mortality. The 83% rollback in USAID programming, including near-total defunding of maternal health and epidemic surveillance, threatens to reverse decades of global health gains. Researchers called the policy shift “a conscious and avoidable choice” with pandemic-level consequences for low- and middle-income countries. CIDRAP
RESILIENCE
Calls for RFK Jr. to Resign Grow Louder
After news broke that Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report cited studies that don’t appear to exist, more experts are calling for Kennedy’s ouster. “For the sake of our children, frontline health workers, scientists, and every family that deserves accurate healthcare guidance, we must demand his immediate resignation.” MedPage Today, STAT
Standing Up for Public Health: How We’re Helping APHA Fight Back
APHA joined a coalition to file a lawsuit against the OMB to block a policy that paused all agency grants and loans, arguing it violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. In another case, APHA and other organizations challenged the secret operations of DOGE, asserting violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. APHA also took part in a lawsuit contesting the abrupt cancellation of research grants by the NIH, emphasizing the importance of continued support for biomedical research. “By supporting APHA’s efforts, we stand united in defending public health and promoting fair health outcomes for all.” Arizona Public Health Association
Physician Groups Need to Become Better Advocates
Amid rising public health threats, political interference, and eroding trust in science, Democrats have launched a campaign to elect 100 doctors to public office—aiming to restore evidence-based policymaking. But with organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and AMA remaining largely silent during controversial developments such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as HHS Secretary, physician engagement has lagged. Patient advocate Hala Durrah calls on physicians to embrace their influence—not only in clinics but in public discourse—by fostering connection, creating room for compromise, and anchoring to their “North Star”: the patients they serve. STAT
AVIAN INFLUENZA
If You Stop Testing Humans for Bird Flu, You’ll Have Zero Cases
The last bird flu case in a person was listed by the CDC on 23 February. At that point, at least 830 people in the US had been tested after contact with sick animals. This kind of testing – monitoring the health of people who regularly work with H5N1-infected animals – is how the vast majority of cases (64 out of 70) have been found in this outbreak. But then, several CDC officials overseeing the bird flu response were fired on 1 April. Since then, only about 50 people in the US have been tested after exposure to sick animals – and no positive cases have been announced. It’s also now more difficult to understand the extent of the outbreak and how the virus spreads among animals. “We’re not testing – it’s not that there are no new cases.” The Guardian
This is How We Fight Bird Flu If H5N1 Becomes the Next Human Pandemic
This Scientific American podcast episode takes listeners inside a high-containment lab at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, where scientists are developing prototype H5N1 bird flu vaccines using reverse genetics and fertilized chicken eggs. The episode explores the strengths and vulnerabilities of the U.S. vaccine infrastructure—and the growing concerns among public health experts about delays, surveillance gaps, and workforce losses that could hamper a future pandemic response. Scientific American
CDC Study Confirms Airborne Spread of H5N1 from U.S. Dairy Case in Ferret Model
Study has confirmed that the H5N1 avian influenza virus isolated from a Michigan dairy farm worker can spread through the air between mammals, raising alarms about its pandemic potential. Using ferrets—the gold-standard animal model for human influenza transmission—researchers found the virus efficiently transmitted via respiratory droplets, with 50% of ferrets in adjacent cages becoming infected without direct contact. Though the virus caused moderate illness, it was not lethal, and genetic analysis revealed mammalian-adaptive mutations. The findings reinforce the urgent need for enhanced surveillance in livestock settings and underscore how each human infection presents another opportunity for viral evolution. Global Biodefense
Seasonal Flu Shots Offer No Shield Against Spreading H5N1 Threat
A new study warns that current seasonal flu vaccines provide no immune protection against two dangerous strains of avian influenza A(H5N1), including the version linked to recent U.S. dairy cattle outbreaks and human infections. Researchers found that while standard flu shots boosted antibodies against seasonal strains, they completely failed to neutralize H5N1 viruses—even among healthy adults. The findings raise alarms as the virus spreads in mammals and shows signs of adaptation, highlighting an urgent gap in pandemic preparedness. The authors call for accelerated development of H5N1-specific vaccines, enhanced surveillance, and targeted protection for high-risk populations. Global Biodefense
Shielding the Scavengers: Fighting Avian Flu in California Condors
A landmark study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases shows promising results for protecting critically endangered California condors from H5N1 avian influenza. Researchers found that a poultry H5N1 vaccine was safe and immunogenic in both condors and black vultures, with 80% of vaccinated condors mounting an antibody response. A prime-boost regimen offered slightly stronger protection, and prior lead exposure did not significantly impact outcomes. Prompted by a deadly 2023 outbreak that killed nearly one-fifth of a wild condor subpopulation, the findings support vaccination as a viable conservation strategy—and possibly a scalable model for shielding other at-risk avian species from emerging zoonotic threats. Global Biodefense
High Stakes in Sichuan: A Decade of Deadly H5N6 Infections Raises Urgency for Avian Influenza Control
A ten-year retrospective study in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that H5N6 avian influenza remains a severe yet under-addressed threat in China’s Sichuan Province, with a startling 75% case fatality rate among 16 confirmed human infections from 2014 to 2024. Most cases involved middle-aged farmers with direct exposure to dead poultry, highlighting the role of live bird markets and poor rural diagnostics in delayed care. Global Biodefense
Tracking the Threat: How a New H5N1 Virus Variant Took Hold Across Europe
A sweeping genomic study has traced the emergence and spread of a new H5N1 virus variant—EA-2023-DG—across 11 European countries, revealing the virus’s reassortment origin in the Baltic region and its rapid expansion into poultry, wild birds, and even a fox. The analysis used phylodynamic modeling to map the virus’s evolution and continental migration from late 2023 through mid-2024. The variant’s genetic profile includes mammalian-adaptive mutations, and it has already been used in U.S. studies showing efficient replication in cattle. The findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated genomic surveillance, especially in wildlife, to anticipate and contain zoonotic threats. Global Biodefense
AI + CYBERBIOSECURITY
Deterrence in the Age of Weaponizable Biotechnology
Emerging biotechnologies—particularly gene editing, synthetic biology, and AI—are creating the potential for “genetic weapons” that are highly variable, hard to detect, and nearly impossible to attribute. Unlike nuclear weapons, their invisibility and unpredictability render traditional deterrence strategies obsolete. The convergence of these technologies with global instability and disinformation is accelerating the risk of a catastrophic genetic arms race. Mitigating this threat requires an unprecedented international response: strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention, establishing verification mechanisms, and initiating sustained global cooperation before these technologies outpace governance. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Harnessing Machine Learning for Agnostic Biodetection
Emerging machine learning (ML) approaches are enabling “agnostic” biodetection systems that do not rely on predefined pathogen signatures. Instead, these systems analyze raw or minimally processed data—such as electrical signals from nanopore sequencing or mass spectrometry readouts—to detect health or environmental threats. Tools like SquiggleNet and SeqScreen demonstrate the feasibility of classifying unknown or novel biological agents through deep learning models trained on functional or structural features rather than static references. Host-based response signatures and protein function predictors further enhance this reference-independent paradigm. Integrating diverse ML platforms can strengthen biosurveillance, reduce false positives, and increase readiness for unpredictable biosecurity threats. Health Security
Automated Grading for Efficiently Evaluating the Dual-Use Biological Capabilities of Large Language Models
A recent RAND study developed and validated an automated grading system to evaluate the biological dual-use capabilities of large language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4 and Claude Opus 3. These models demonstrated the ability to generate step-by-step protocols for common lab techniques relevant to biosecurity threat scenarios, including those involving engineered superantigen-secreting bacteria. The study’s key contribution is an autograder that performs comparably to human experts, enabling scalable, cost-effective risk assessments without relying on intensive expert review. These findings support the feasibility of automating LLM risk evaluation and underscore the need to expand threat models and improve rubric clarity to address evolving AI-biosecurity concerns. RAND
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
DARPA’s PROSE Program Aims to Revolutionize Protein Sequencing
DARPA’s new PROtein SEquencing (PROSE) program aims to catalyze innovation in real-time, high-throughput protein sequencing—a transformative capability for biosurveillance, synthetic biology detection, and national biodefense. With up to 36 months of funding support, PROSE seeks to develop molecular readers capable of de novo sequencing proteins at ≥99% accuracy over 300 amino acids, with future platforms reaching throughput of 10¹⁰ amino acid reads per day. The program emphasizes scalability, direct detection of unknown proteins and modifications, and interdisciplinary approaches spanning microfabrication, AI, and biochemistry. DARPA invites proposals that go beyond genomics to enable early detection of engineered biological threats, support battlefield health monitoring, and bolster forensic biosecurity. Global Biodefense
Precision Pathogen Detection: Argonaute Powers a New Era of Biosensing
A new review in Pathogens highlights the accelerating development of Argonaute (Ago)-based nucleic acid detection technologies, which promise rapid, precise, and field-deployable diagnostics for emerging pathogens. Unlike CRISPR, Ago proteins can target DNA or RNA without strict sequence constraints, enabling ultrasensitive, multiplex, and even amplification-free detection. Chinese researchers catalog breakthroughs such as MULAN (for portable virus detection), A-Star (for mutation-specific diagnostics), and PASS (which uses AI-enhanced signal quantification). These platforms are already proving effective against high-priority threats like multidrug-resistant bacteria, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and foodborne pathogens. While technical hurdles remain, Ago-based tools represent a powerful frontier in biosurveillance and pandemic response, especially in low-resource or decentralized settings. Global Biodefense
Politics Over Patients? FDA’s Ban on Overseas Sample Processing Undermines U.S. Biomedicine
The FDA has abruptly banned the export of human biological samples from U.S. clinical trials to labs in China and other designated countries, citing national security concerns. The move reverses a Biden-era exemption and halts a common practice essential to modern drug development, particularly for small biotech firms that rely on global lab capacity. Critics warn the ban lacks transparency, disrupts trials, and could drive research investment abroad. Experts see the policy as part of a broader Trump-Vance Administration trend of politicizing biosecurity at the expense of scientific progress and public health preparedness. Global Biodefense
Standardizing Wildlife Disease Data for Global Health Security
A new study in Scientific Data introduces a long-needed minimum data standard for wildlife disease research, aiming to resolve chronic issues of fragmented and inconsistent data that undermine global biosurveillance. The standard outlines required fields for diagnostics, metadata, and sampling context, with a strong emphasis on including negative results—a critical yet often-missing component in pathogen tracking. By enabling more robust early warning systems for zoonotic threats like Ebola and COVID-19, the standard represents a vital tool for integrated One Health preparedness and biosecurity. Global Biodefense
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
U.S. Measles Cases Hit Highest Level in 33 Years, CDC Reports
The CDC reports 1,288 measles cases so far in 2025—the most in over three decades—driven by declining childhood vaccination rates and the year’s largest outbreak in Texas. Experts warn the U.S. is at serious risk of losing its measles elimination status, a symbolic and public health milestone achieved in 2000. Over 90% of cases involved unvaccinated individuals or unknown status, with three reported deaths and growing concern over measles’ long-term effects, including immune amnesia. The resurgence, fueled by vaccine hesitancy and weakened public health support, underscores the fragility of herd immunity and the broader threat posed by politicized vaccine policy. NPR, New York Times, STAT
Cracking the Code to Contain African Swine Fever in the U.S.
A new modeling study from NC State, USDA-APHIS, and the University of Minnesota outlines what it would take to eradicate African swine fever (ASF) within 12 months of a potential outbreak in the southeastern United States. Using the PigSpread-ASF model, researchers found that existing USDA protocols would only succeed in about 65% of simulated scenarios, highlighting the need for more aggressive control strategies. Measures such as expanded control zones, a 30-day standstill on animal and vehicle movements, and delayed farm repopulation dramatically improved outcomes. While ASF has not yet been detected in the U.S., the study provides a critical blueprint for contingency planning—underscoring that early detection and rapid, large-scale intervention will be essential to prevent prolonged economic and agricultural disruption. Global Biodefense
Novartis Wins Approval for First Malaria Drug for Newborns and Babies
In a major advance for global child health, Swiss regulators have approved Coartem Baby, the world’s first malaria treatment specifically designed for infants, a group previously excluded from drug trials. Developed by Novartis and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), the dissolvable, cherry-flavored formulation closes a dangerous treatment gap for newborns and very young children. Approval under Switzerland’s MAGHP procedure paves the way for rapid rollout in eight African countries, where the majority of malaria deaths occur. The not-for-profit launch comes as Novartis continues expanding its neglected tropical disease portfolio, signaling a rare commitment from big pharma to equity-driven R&D. With nearly 600,000 malaria deaths annually—76% among children under five—this milestone has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives and strengthen efforts to eliminate malaria globally. Reuters, Fierce Pharma, BBC
Toward Zero Rabies Deaths by 2030: One Health Strategies Show Path Forward
A new review highlights how One Health strategies—linking human, animal, and environmental health—are making rabies elimination by 2030 a realistic global goal. With over 59,000 deaths annually, mostly in low-income regions, the disease remains entirely preventable. The study emphasizes the importance of mass dog vaccination, timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and robust animal surveillance, citing successful models like the Baiyun District response in China. It also calls for stronger data systems, public education, and cross-sector collaboration to close critical gaps. Global Biodefense
COVID-19
FDA Expanding COVID Vaccine Warnings Over Rare Heart Side Effect
The FDA has updated warning labels for Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to reflect new data on rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in males aged 12 to 24, who experience about 27 cases per million doses. The update follows a post-approval study showing persistent signs of heart inflammation in some patients months after diagnosis, though the long-term impact remains unclear. Despite the expanded warnings, public health experts stress that the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks. AP, FDA, The Hill
SPECIAL INTEREST
Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Program
A six-month, full-time, hands-on professional development fellowship in Washington D.C. structured to engage Fellows in developing the evidence basis needed to meet future regulatory challenges presented by novel products of biotechnology. Application deadline is 31 Aug. National Academies